Breathe Yoga & Wellness Torquay

15/08/2026

From nearly 60kg of family tent… to just over 6kg! 😆⛺️

Our enormous old tent held so many lovely memories from when the children were young, but that chapter of life came to an end a long time ago.

And now, unexpectedly, another little camping chapter is beginning.

Since his knee replacements, and particularly since beginning a daily yoga practice in January, Alistair is getting his zest for life back. He’s walking miles, cycling all over South Devon and recently went camping in the Brecon Beacons with our son - and loved it.

So we’ve downsized dramatically to a little tent for the two of us and Sid, and this weekend we’re heading off into deepest Cornwall for its first outing. ❤️🤣🤣

14/08/2026

For many, many generations, across hundreds and even thousands of years, people have practised yoga to cultivate the body and mind.

To develop strength and steadiness.
To increase mobility and ease.
To work with the breath.
To concentrate the mind.
To become quieter inside.

Those things matter. They have always mattered.

But the deeper purpose of yoga was never simply to create a stronger, more flexible or calmer version of ourselves.

In the Yoga Sutras, yoga is described as the stilling of the movements of the mind. And then comes a really important bit:

“Tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe ’vasthānam” - then the seer rests in its own true nature.

It doesn’t say that we create a better self.

It suggests that beneath the thoughts, roles, habits, worries, opinions and stories we accumulate, there is something that doesn’t need improving.

Perhaps that is one way of understanding what it means to “come home to yourself.”

We use the body.
We work with the breath.
We learn to notice the mind.
We practise becoming a little less pulled around by every thought and sensation.

But none of those is really the destination. They are ways of becoming quiet enough to notice what was there all along. And perhaps that is why a yoga practice can sometimes feel strangely like remembering rather than learning.

If this resonates with you, and you’re curious to explore yoga in a way that includes the body, breath and mind, you’re very welcome to join us in Torquay or Collaton St Mary.

12/08/2026

Sometimes the yoga we need most isn’t the yoga that asks us to do more.

Much of modern life pulls us continually outwards. There are people to look after, messages to answer, places to be, work to do, families to support and an endless stream of small things asking for our attention. Much of that is lovely - a full life can be a rich life.

But there can come a point when full begins to become a feeling of depletion. We may be tired but still find it hard to switch off. The body is resting, but the mind is still planning. We become more reactive, overwhelmed, or simply feel our reserves running low.

This is where conscious rest is very different from simply stopping. Yin and Restorative Yoga invite us to slow everything down. Postures are supported and held for longer. There is no rushing, no striving and no expectation that we should be anywhere other than exactly where we are.

The breath quietens.
Muscular effort reduces.
The attention turns inward.

A number of people have said that this is “the yoga I never knew I needed”, and I think that describes it beautifully.

Because genuine rest is different from scrolling on our phones, watching television or distracting ourselves.

It is allowing body and mind to be nourished. And that is not selfish or self-indulgent. It is pure self-care. With regular practice, we begin to recognise depletion sooner and pause before our reserves are empty. Little by little, we move from depletion towards nourishment and abundance.

And that begins to ripple outwards.

When we are better rested, steadier and more resourced, we have more to give to the people we love and the lives we are living.

Self-care benefits everyone. It really is a win-win.

The Friday afternoon Yin & Restorative class is a deliberately quiet end to the week - supported postures, stillness, breathwork, deep rest and Himalayan singing bowls.

Perhaps this is the yoga you didn’t know you needed.

If you would like to explore more or book, please go to www.bythesea.yoga

09/08/2026

I hope you’re all enjoying the summer and finding a little time to enjoy the lighter evenings, warmth and beauty around us.

A little reminder too for the birds and smaller wildlife sharing our gardens with us at this time of year. Natural water sources can become harder to find in prolonged dry weather and the dry hard ground makes it harder to find food - a shallow dish of fresh water in a shady spot can really help. Add a few stones and even bees and other insects have somewhere safe to land and drink.

And while summer naturally draws us outwards - into gardens, beaches, gatherings and lovely holidays, perhaps we can remember to give a little time to our inner world too. Time to calm the mind, nurture the body, breathe more deeply and simply check in with ourselves. Yoga gives us that space.

Classes are running this week in Torquay and Paignton, including Friday afternoon Restorative / Yin Yoga.

You are always very welcome, whether you come regularly or haven’t been for a while.

Move • Breathe • Reconnect

For more information and to book - www.bythesea.yoga

27/07/2026

Awaken, Soften and Feel Alive
A Sunday Morning of Yoga by the Sea

There’s something special about a slow Sunday morning - a chance to step away from the usual demands of life, breathe more deeply and return to yourself.

You’re warmly invited to join me for a nourishing morning of yoga at Breathe Yoga & Wellness in Torquay.

If the August weather is kind, we’ll begin outside in the garden, overlooking the sea and Thatcher Rock, surrounded by fresh air, flowers and the sounds of nature.

We’ll start with gentle, mindful movement to awaken the body and invite a sense of aliveness ....

moving with the breath, opening, stretching and gradually building a quiet, steady energy.

Nothing forceful or demanding - simply enough movement to help you feel present, energised and connected.

We’ll then pause for refreshments, with time to sit, chat and enjoy the garden before retreating into the cosy studio.

The second half of the morning will be devoted to deep rest ...

a soothing blend of yin and restorative yoga, allowing the body to soften, release and fully unwind.

We’ll close with a deeply restful yoga nidra and the beautiful sounds and vibrations of Himalayan singing bowls.

For anyone who is curious, there will also be the option of a brief two-minute cold-water immersion, with guidance in using yogic breathing to help soften the initial discomfort and remain calm. This is entirely optional, with no pressure whatsoever to take part.

If the weather isn’t on our side, we’ll simply enjoy the whole morning inside the warm and welcoming studio.

This morning is about balance ....

awakening and softening
energy and ease
movement and stillness
feeling alive and resting deeply

All are welcome and no previous yoga experience is needed.

Sunday 23rd August
9am-noon
Breathe Yoga & Wellness, Torquay
£33
Free, ample parking available

There is one further Sunday Yoga Morning on 13th September, if you are tempted but cannot make this August date.

To book: www.bythesea.yoga

Experience inner peace by the sea in Torquay at Breathe: Yoga and Wellness by the Sea. Elevate your well-being with guided Yoga sessions and serene coastal vibes. Embrace balance, nourish your mind, body and soul.

26/07/2026

Tired of feeling like you should be doing more - fixing more - becoming more?

What if real growth doesn’t come from pushing hard?

This New Moon, instead of striving or setting expectations, you’re invited to stop.

To step out of the pressure.

To put everything down, just for a while.

And to discover what begins to shift when you give yourself space.

Because growth doesn’t always look like effort.

Sometimes it looks like rest.

Sometimes it begins the moment you stop trying so hard.

August can feel full - full of light, activity, plans and expectations.

This evening is an invitation to step away from all of that for a while.

To soften.

To breathe.

To give yourself space.

A gentle, nurturing pause and reset before the week ahead, where nothing is required of you.

Time to simply be.

If the weather is kind we will practice in a private space overlooking the sea and Thatcher Rock, and if not we will gather in the adjoining yoga studio.

✨ Restorative yoga
✨ Yoga Nidra
✨ Calming breathwork
✨ Himalayan singing bowls
✨ All welcome
✨ Sunday 16 August, 7pm
✨ £13.33
✨ 12 Thatcher Avenue, Torquay, TQ1 2PD

A small group in a friendly and welcoming space.